Making a corn snake biotope?

[VickyChaiTea]

I love the look of natural habitats, and I figure a fully planted vivarium would look so nice! I know there are plants (like pothos) that do well in vivs, but I'd like to do something even more natural. I'd like to do plants native to corn snakes natural habitat, making a biotope.

I was thinking of doing a 40gal breeder with an UTH with an aquarium hood light for the plants. I know most of the plants probably aren't available on the market, but I'd like to use at least SOME. I was thinking of using "pet grass" on about 40% of the bottom since I know finding the exact kind of grass in their natural habitat would be impossible. Or maybe I could use sprouted bird seed? I grew that a few times for my hamsters to forage in, it grew like grass and super fast.

So, anyone know of any plants I could use that are native to the southwestern US? What about trees? I ask because it would be cool to make a wood pile type thing full of nooks and crannies the snake could hide in. Or hollow out a piece of native wood as a hide.

 

[bitsy]

Have you read "The Art of Keeping Snakes" by Philippe de Vosjili? It's a fantastic volume on setting up and running self-sustaining natural habitats in a tank, for a range of reptiles. Looks like you can pick up a used copy from an Amazon shop for $4.60 + shipping.

Very inspiring and might give you some great ideas.

http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Snake...2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299659152&sr=8-2-spell

 

[VickyChaiTea]

The books on my wishlist! I will pick it up next week, possibly this week if I check how much is in the bank. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Susan]

I love the look of natural habitats, and I figure a fully planted vivarium would look so nice! I know there are plants (like pothos) that do well in vivs, but I'd like to do something even more natural. I'd like to do plants native to corn snakes natural habitat, making a biotope.

I was thinking of doing a 40gal breeder with an UTH with an aquarium hood light for the plants. I know most of the plants probably aren't available on the market, but I'd like to use at least SOME. I was thinking of using "pet grass" on about 40% of the bottom since I know finding the exact kind of grass in their natural habitat would be impossible. Or maybe I could use sprouted bird seed? I grew that a few times for my hamsters to forage in, it grew like grass and super fast.

So, anyone know of any plants I could use that are native to the southwestern US? What about trees? I ask because it would be cool to make a wood pile type thing full of nooks and crannies the snake could hide in. Or hollow out a piece of native wood as a hide.

You mean the southeastern US. And you can actually go all the way from tropical Florida up the east coast into New Jersey.

I could send you just about any plant I can find around the property. Grass...actually not much worth growing unless it's special for lawns. Palmetto bushes will be much too large for a viv, even a 40 gallon. Wood pile...pine and scrub oak mostly and you have to have Spanish moss with it. Most of the ground is actually leaf litter with bare sand, some moss/lichen-type stuff and a few small weird plants, some nasty parasitic vines with thorns and a cactus or two. And like I said, I can make a care-package of the better/safer stuff and send it to you. I do not guarantee against any possible small life forms being shipped as well, but I will do my best.

 

[VickyChaiTea]

PFFT aaaaah you're right. Sorry, typo!

And really?? Oh my gosh that would be awesome. Unfortunately I won't be doing this for a while, due to current space constraints. But I would absolutely love if I could buy some plants off of you in the future for it!